Peoria Manual was in the land of the giants Friday afternoon against Rockford Boylan in the Class AA state quarterfinals, but the Rams still have a chance to get to the promised land. Playing against a front line that included 6-8 Chad Gallagher and 6-6 Danny Jones, Manual overcame its shortcomings for a 49-41 victory.

The Rams (30-1) advanced to Saturday`s first semifinal against King. Boylan finished at 29-3.

``We try to help as much on defense as we can, pressure them a little bit,`` said Manual coach Dick Van Scyoc. ``We didn`t scout Rockford Boylan. We relied on getting back and packing in as much as we could.``

``We haven`t gone against a front line as big as they were,`` said Jackson, who led all scorers with 21 points, 14 in the first half when Manual built a 26-16 lead. ``But we played against shorter front lines that were just as tough.

``We just try and play our game, regardless. We`re not going to change. We`ve won 30 games.``

Manual`s game is quickness, adept ballhandling and holding the ball at the right time against a taller opponent. For example, after the Rams went ahead 22-14 early in the second quarter, they held the ball for three minutes until Jackson`s baseline layup made it 24-14 with 2 minutes 31 seconds left in the period.

``Manual didn`t take our inside game away from us as much as their delay game kept our hands away from the ball,`` said Boylan coach Steve Goers. ``You hear about Dick`s run-and-gun teams, but they`re disciplined kids, too.``

Free-throw shooting also hurt Boylan, which was 9 of 14 from the line while Manual sank 15 of 16. Curtis Stuckey, one of four Manual players who is averaging in double figures, hit 8 of 8 foul shots and had 12 points.

Boylan`s Jones had a disappointing game. The 6-6, 235-pound senior, who had averaged 21.9 points and 9.5 rebounds, finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds. He was 4 of 12 from the field. Gallagher led Boylan with 14 points and 9 rebounds.

``For 31 games this season, we made shots that we missed today,`` Goers said. ``But you`ve got to remember these are high school kids.``

``I looked at the stat sheet that all you fellows have, and I saw Danny Jones, Danny Jones, Danny Jones,`` said Van Scyoc. ``That tells you one thing. It`s either Jones or Gallagher that gets the ball around the hoop. That tells you the other guys don`t shoot much. We were hoping to delay the game long enough to win.``

Van Scyoc said this Manual team is better than his 1982 squad that reached the state quarterfinals and finished 23-8.

``It`s much better overall,`` he said. ``This is a better shooting team, and we can run better.``